BELLRINGING COMMEMORATIONS

Last Saturday 3rd September 2016 another quarter peal was rung at St. Thomas, Leesfield, Lees on the 100th anniversary of two more of our former members who fell in the Great War. We were joined by ringers from Oldham, Halifax, West Haughton, Heptonstall and Spitalfields, London. (Details are shown below). We were especially delighted to meet Mr. Alan Regin, Steward of the Rolls of Honour, from London who had brought, to show us, two books of remembrance, leather bound with pages made from vellum that are normally kept in St. Paul’s Cathedral. The first book produced in 1920 cost £25 and contains the names of the bellringers from Great Britain who died. However, the book was full and more names that were missing needed to be added. Alan, who has been researching for more information about the ringers, had the second book commissioned. This cost approx. £4,800. The names are shown in alphabetical order and further names can be added if required.
Alan told us that, apart from a tower in the northeast of England, Leesfield had the second largest number of ringers from one tower who fell during the Great War 1914 - 1918.
N.B. The first page of the book (shown right) shows the names of the battlefields and the bell ropes intertwined with barbed wire.
Later that day a full peal was rung at St. Mary the Virgin, Oldham and was dedicated to the former Leesfield ringers.
Many thanks to Mr. Derek Thomas for making all the arrangements.

Private Tom Schofield of the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) 1st/7th Bn. Service No. 305780 who died 03/09/1916 aged 20 during the battles for Pozierers Ridge
He is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial, France, (Pier and Face 6A and 6B)
Born 27/06/1896. Son of James and Sarah Schofield of Lees. He worked as a House Painter before leaving for France, initially Boulogne, on 14th April 1915.
Born: Lees, Lancashire. Enlisted: Uppermill. Resided: 1911 Census, 106 High St Lees Lancs.

Private Thomas Gibson, Died 09/09/1916 age 26. The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment 1st/4th Bn. Service No. 202773. Commemorated at Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval, France, Grave XVIII. A. 5.  Son of Thomas and Mary Ann Gibson. Resided: at 15 Church Street, Lees. He worked as a Minder at Lees Union Mill before joining up, initially in the Manchester Regiment, Service Number 4756, then the King’s Liverpool Regiment before transferring to The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Born: Leigh, Lancs. Enlisted: Oldham, Lancs.

The other former ringer who we rang a quarter peal for last year to commemorate the centenary of his death on August 21st 1915 was  Private John Binns age 30. Commemorated at the Helles Memorial, Turkey. Panel 117 to 119.  He served in the 8th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) Service Number 12149.  Son of Mrs. Hannah Binns at 31 Oldham Road, Springhead. Born: Keighley, Yorks. Enlisted: Keighley. Resided: Oldham, Lancs.

Peal & Quarter Details:

Lancashire Association	Lancashire Association	Lancashire Association
Leesfield, Lancashire	Oldham, Lancashire	Leesfield, Lancashire
St Thomas	St Mary the Virgin	St Thomas
Saturday 3 September 2016	Saturday 3 September 2016	Friday 21 August 2015
in 48m (14-0-8)	in 3h11m (15-0-0)	in 48m (14-0-8)
1260 Grandsire Triples	5024 Bristol Surprise Major	1260 Plain Bob Minor
	Composed: James W Holdsworth (no.3)
1   Liz Dent                            (Leesfield)	1   Derek J Thomas            (Oldham)	1   Helen Rigby          (Newhey)
2   John M Thurman            (Halifax)	2   Lee Pinnington              (unattached)	2   Jack Whitehead     (Leesfield)
3   James E Andrews            (West Haughton)	3   James E Andrews           (West Haughton)	3   C Phillip Hope      (Newhey)
4   Brian Hayes                     (Leesfield)	4   Neil J Murray                (Halifax)	4   Brian Hayes           (Leesfield)
5   Derek J Thomas (C)       (Oldham)	5   George H Campling      (Heptonstall)	5   Eric Whitehead     (Leesfield)
6   George H Campling       (Heptonstall)	6   Geoffrey R Gardner       (Hazel Grove)	6   Derek J Thomas (C) (Oldham)
7   Alan Regin                        (Spitalfields,London)	7   Alan Regin                   (Spitalfields,London)
8   Eric Whitehead                (Leesfield)	8   John M Thurman (C)    (Halifax)

See the article in the Oldham Evening Chronicle

September 16th 2016

http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news-headlines/99787/bells-chime-on-for-war-heroes

Leesfield Parish September 18th 2016

DCC Meetings this week. These are open meetings, and anyone may attend. Come along and join in the conversations about your church!

St Thomas Monday 19^th 7pm

St Agnes    Wednesday 21^st 8pm

Ladies of Leesfield meet on Thursday 22^nd at 7.30pm in church –Embarassing Moments!

Harvest Queen crowning at St Thomas on Saturday 24^th at 2.30pm. Please come along and support Molly-Mae and her retinue.

Unfortunately St Thomas’ Sunday School prizegiving didn’t happen as originally planned on the 11^th. It will now take place next Sunday, the 25^th.

A reminder – Sunday School begins at St Agnes at 9.10am. To be marked as present (for the purpose of school admission) children should be there by that time. Similarly, to be marked present, children should be in St Thomas Church before the service begins at 11am.

Harvest Sunday is October 2^nd. There will be a Parish Service at St Thomas 11am. No service at St Agnes that day. This will be followed by Harvest Lunch in church. This is a ticket only event (because we need to know numbers in advance for catering). Adults £5 Children up to 11 years £2.50

Tuesday morning Holy Communion service at St Thomas at 10am. This is a short (30mins) service without hymns. It would be good to involve more people. If you are around at that time why not drop in and give it a try? And stay for a cuppa afterwards too !

Community Room  Anyone wishing to book the community room at St Thomas should contact Audrey Atkinson (652 2987) She is in charge of bookings so we don’t double book.

Supplementary forms – should be given to Edith by October 2^nd for completion. They will be signed and returned to you soon afterwards.

Keep up to date by looking at our website leesfieldparish.blogspot.co.uk, and follow the

Sunday school facebook pages

Magazine  articles to paulmdent@gmail.com

Items for the newsletter to Edith by Wednesday eve please.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Mon 19^th   Sept         St Thomas DCC    7pm    

Wed 21^st    Sept       St Agnes DCC         8pm

Thurs 22^nd Sept      Ladies of L   7.30pm in church   Embarassing Moments

Sat 24^th  Sept          St Thomas Harvest Queen Crowning 2.30pm

Mon 26^th Sept       PCC    St Thomas  7pm

Sat Oct 1^st              Coffee morning 2 Hopkin View

Sun Oct  2^nd                  Harvest Sunday     Parish service at St Thomas  11am followed by lunch

Sat Oct 8^th                 Wedding at St Thomas  2pm

Tues Oct 11^th         Churches Together Open meeting   Zion Methodist Church 7.30pm

Sun Oct 16^th             Rose Queen At Home St Agnes 2.30pm

Sun Oct 23^rd             Christmas stall starts  St Thomas

Sun Oct 30^th             Service for All Souls   St Thomas  3.30pm

Boundary Walk - Saturday 17th September

This year’s Sponsored Parish Boundary Walk will take place on Saturday 17^th September, starting from the car park at the end of Station Road,  Grotton at 10 am.

Please join us in this fun event, which also raises lots of money for Parish funds.

As well as walkers and sponsors we will need marshals to man the checkpoints. Any volunteers please see Paul or Liz. 

Sponsor forms, walking guides and maps are available from both churches and schools, or contact lizzy.dent@googlemail.com .

https://mydonate.bt.com/events/boundarywalk3/340050

To join the walk and get your own Fundraising page to collect sponsorship online, click the link go to https://mydonate.bt.com/events/boundarywalk3/340050 and select the pink "Start Fundraising" button. You will have to register, then when asked to select a charity event choose this one. during the process you will be asked if you want to link your page to a fundraising team, answer yes and the reference number you need is 817595721. Hope you can join the team!